Heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is hardly studied. Though a reduced HRV in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has been associated with poor prognosis. Data on HRV in AF-patients without a reduced ejection fraction is lacking. We hypothesize that those patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and larger beat-to-beat variability would be more symptomatic than does those with smaller HRV. To asses this theory we intend to perform a prospective observational trial. Symptoms of Atrial fibrillation will be assessed using Quality of Life questionnaires and 6 minutes walking test. Heart rate variability will be assessed using 24 hour Holter ECG monitoring. The correlation between symptoms and heart rate variability will be then assessed.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
32
Heart and Diabetes Center NRW
Bad Oeynhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Atrial fibrillation symptoms
Whether atrial fibrillation symptoms assessed by Quality-of-Life questionnaires correlates with heart rate variability
Time frame: 7 days
Atrial fibrillation symptoms
Whether atrial fibrillation symptoms assessed by Quality-of-Life questionnaires correlates with heart rate reserve. Heart rate reserve is defined as the difference between maximal heart rate (220- age in years) and mean heart rate during atrial fibrillation (assessed by 24 hour Holter ECG monitoring).
Time frame: 7 days
Improvement in 6MWD (6 minutes walk distance)
Whether 6MWD improvement after treatment of atrial fibrillation correlates with heart rate variability.
Time frame: 7 days
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